Earl Lessons

Footmen's Club Series, Book 5

By: Valerie Bowman

Narrated by: Mary Sarah

Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

He never wanted a title.

Fresh off the battlefield, Captain David Ellsworth has returned home to discover the shocking and unwelcome news that he's the new Earl of Elmwood. Though David had no idea he was in line for a title, he and his sister must now navigate the snark-infested waters of the London ton. He knows how to be a soldier, an officer, and a brother, but he hasn't a clue how to be an earl. David will need all the help he can get. Even if it comes from the undeniably beautiful woman...who is the darling of the world he detests.

She never wanted a husband.

The younger sister of a marquess, Lady Annabelle Bellham moves through elegant ballrooms with the ease of a lioness traversing the jungle. She's the most elusive belle at every ball, and gentlemen have long placed bets on which lucky man will finally win her hand. But Annabelle has no intention of falling prey to a man's charms. She's seen the destruction wrought by marriage and is dead set on avoiding a similar fate.

But here they are....

Contains mature themes.

©2021 June Third Enterprises, LLC (P)2021 Tantor

Loved this book.

This was a really good book and it kept my attention all the way through. I did have a hard time getting past the narrator. The sound she made after almost every word did distract me. It’s hard to describe but if you listen to the book you’ll know what I’m talking about. If it wasn’t such a good book, I don’t think I would have finished it.

Disappointing

I liked the beginning of the book and had high hopes for an entertaining and interesting story. However, as the story developed, I became more and more disappointed. The inconsistencies in the characters were just too much. David shows himself as a thoughtful and bright man. So the courtship of Lady Elspeth made no sense whatsoever. The prologue is very important to explain Annabelle and her family. There is quite a bit explaining of Annabelle independence of mind. So the way she handles the threat of Lord Murdoch makes no sense. And thesame is true for her mother, considering what she went through. When the characters actions are in complete conflict to what we learned about them, the book starts to annoy.
As far as the narration: I am not a fan of Mary Sarah, but in this book her narration was perfectly fine.

I now have a clear understanding of pending

Use of AI voice readers. What I could stand to listen to was not a bad story but I could not bear that reader’s style. If there is such a budget crunch for readers, go to a local middle school, I’m sure a sixth grader could do better. Who hires these people and do they ever check the reading progress? The cadence was unbearable, so much so it led me to review the book. Please, if you’re going to take our money make it worthwhile.